Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-28

The MISUNDERSTANDING Busser Ex'
plains why re became Thief.
fThe World.l

The srrest Of Theodore Hair, The hh'
mund thief, who, In the guise OF Dutler,
obtained employment in various wealtny
families and substituted paste for the orI'
lionls in such iewelry belonging 10 bis en'-
rloyers a. be could get access 10, has coca
stoned an unprecedented stir In tasbionap'e
circles. IN every household whose butter
has recently been changed fear lest Tue
clever scoundrel might have practiced MS
talents upon the family jewels has sent tne
anxious owners scurrying 10 the ieweller
for an experts verdict, while not lew re.
pref eptatlyes of wealth and fashion called
Yesterday at police headquarters to see II
they could recognize in the prisoner tue
features Of former servant.
The novelty Of the robbery and the slight
chances OF detection attending II have pro-
yoked a widespread discussion and engen-
dcred dread lest the homes OF the rlch be.
come the targets for host OF linitat0rs oil
tie dishonest buffers methods.
According TO Hairs Own admission ne
has been employed In numerous families.
aud the sIIppositiou Is that he has practiced
his ingenious fraud extensively. AS told
in Yesterdays World, the detection OF tne
thief was due to the merest accident. Mrs;
Duncan Cryder, n widely.knOwn society
li6y. formerly Miss Chauncey. wished her
ear rings reset and took them TO Tihany. =.
Why, these are PASTE" exclaimed the
clerk upon examining them
Impossible! " Ietorted Mrs. Cryder.
"Tbey were presents from my husband,
who bought them here, together with this,
my ongsgementring," and the lady exposed
a large solitaire which sparkled upon her
finger. "lIut, madam," replied the clerk.
scruiinizing the ring, "that, too, is paste"
Reference was had TO the books Of the
house, and il wss found that the articles
had Teen bought there; that they were
Diamonds, ana that Mr.. Cfyder had paid n
good round sum for theD. Tiifny Il Co
became concerned. A closer examination
OF the iewelry revealed the fact that the
settings had been tempered with. The
work was neatly done. and, IN the opinion
If TiGapy's expert, indicated that oracti
cal jeweler bad made the change.
The matter w9s referred 10 Inspector
Ryrnes, and when it was learned from Mr..
Crydcr's servants that Hair, recently.
DISCHARGED butler, mad boosted OF being
skillul icwellcr. the detectives ran thai
worthy TO earth ard drew a confession from
him.
81 suppose I'll get five years iof this
said Hair, when he stood before CLERK
John MCGOWAN st Essex Market Yesterday
to hsve his formal cXaminatiOn taken.
What is your bisincss?" asked the
clerk.
Pm a matchmaker and a dilmond-
setter. I've earned as much as $50 week
at it,"
Wasn't that enough to make You lead
an honest lifc?" grumbed the clerk.
"NOw, see here, young fellow, 1t costs
mOniy 10 live in decent society in New
York, and so wasn't enough to last half
wees. Besides, do you think | wanted to
be stuck in a shop AL day; Not much! ]
was out OF work for several months and |
was for two days without anything TO eat,
when sudden thought struck me. why
not whispered the tempter, engage
yourself Us a butler With rich family, and,
when my lady goes out for a matinee or
ride, substitute paste for the diamonds
in her iewelry.' 1t struck me as being
a verv clever idea. | engaged myself
with a family in Brooklyn, and while
my lady was at supper | sueaked up
stairs and substituted paste for the da-
uonds. II was very easy. All | did was
TO loosen the setting OF the lewelry, take
out the diamond, substitute The plSte, and
,qufCZ re the setting together again. ! never
ietnaiued longer than three weeks in one
place. II would take that time 10 ascertain
whore the iewolry was located, and rs soon
AZ | would make the change the place
wouldn't know me any more. IVe been
in twenty houstS a. butler. Did rob every
house was in? What do YOU want to
know for? Int it enough that | plead
gully to two charges:"
THE compliments IN the two eases against
lIahr were the two brokers, Duncan Cry
der. Of No. So west Nineieeth street. and L.
l.. Raihborne, of No. II east SiXty.fOurth
street. HAIR bad been in the employ OF
both. Mrs. Cryder's wedding gilt from
her husband, pair Of solitaire diamond
earrings, fell into Hairs bands, and after
he had substituted paste for the diamonds
he pawned the diamonds in II. =. DOnncl.
Tvs shop, ut No. 4S9 Sixth avenue. From
Mrs. Rsihborne ne stole diamonds worth
500, which he sold 10 Frederick Weigcl.
salesman in the iewelry store OF William
Saicb, ut No. 4s7 Sixth avenue. Weigel
was charged with receiving stolen goods.
Justice O'ReiIly discharged hin, but said
that he would use him as a witness against
Hair.
The butler in Edward l.. KnowliOn's
family. at No. 81 ReTsen, Brooklyn, read IN
The World yesterday morning the account
of Hah's arrest. lie informed Mr.. Knowl-
ton that Hair had once been IN his employ.
Nj. Knowlton examined his diamonds and
discovered that diamonds had been taken
out Of s.ud, a pair OF ear-ringa, aud pin.
and that paste had been substituted. The
diamonds were worth $500. Though Hair
LETT Mr. KBOwlton's employ on October
10th last the larceny was not discovered
aud would probably never have been but
for Hahl's arrest.
"Did you steal my diamonds - asked
Mr Kpowlton OF Ha0r.
81 did, and | pawped them at Simp-
sons" he answered. Mr.. KnewltOn re-
covered his diamonds.